Owls Gym AND Lockhart damaged...

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Owls Gym AND Lockhart damaged...

An article in the Sun-Sentinel says there was extensive roof damage to FAU's gym and it may have an adverse affect on our basketball teams needing to find an alternate location to host home games… Also, there was news that the lights at Lockhart have all been knocked down causing more headaches for alternate locations being needed to play games at home :'(

By Ted HuttonPosted October 29, 2005

"Not only were Florida Atlantic's basketball teams forced to head north to practice this week because of damage from Hurricane Wilma, they may also need to find a new place to play their games once the season begins.

"There was significant damage to the roof [of FAU's gymnasium]," Athletic Director Craig Angelos said Friday. "It is a priority that we get it fixed as soon as possible."

Angelos said the damage was still being assessed, so he did not yet know when or if the roof could be repaired.

The men's team is in Orlando and the women's in Daytona Beach, awaiting word on when they can return.

"I told the coaches to stay on the road until classes resume," Angelos said. That could be as early as Tuesday.

Angelos said the teams would have to find temporary sites to hold practices once they return to Boca Raton.

"What we don't want is to have to find alternative game sites," Angelos said.

The first scheduled event is a Nov. 4 women's exhibition game. The first regular-season game is the women's FAU Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 18. The men's home opener is Nov. 30.

"We're in Orlando doing what we love to do, playing basketball," men's coach Matt Doherty said. "We didn't expect to have to go so far, and weren't sure if we had enough gas, but we made it."

Doherty said while the move was disruptive, it has also had a big benefit.

"We're coming together by spending so much time with each other," Doherty said. "We're looking at it as similar to an NBA training camp."

OWLS HAVE BYE WEEK

With power restored to the Boca Raton campus, the FAU football team will hold its first practice Sunday at 2 p.m.

Coaches met from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and were set to do the same today, going over video and preparing a game plan for the Nov. 5 game at Troy (Ala.).

"With power back we will be back on our usual schedule," assistant coach Fred O'Connor said.

The Owls had a bye week this week and had hoped to have daily practices beginning Tuesday to prepare for their final three games and improving on their 1-7 record, but Wilma wiped out any chance for extra work.

With the dormitories evacuated and campus shut down, the Owls have been idle since their 3-0 overtime loss at Arkansas State last Saturday.

FAU was prepared to fly to Alabama early and practice in Montgomery if the campus remains closed next week."

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